Kanawa is a small beautiful tropical island, fully surrounded by white sandy beaches and coral reefs. It is located at the border of Komodo National Park, just one hour flight away from Bali. Kanawa is the perfect destination for relaxing, snorkeling, diving and exploring the park.

Contents

Orientation

Kanawa Beach Bungalows resort (wwww.kanawaislandresort.com) is located on the southern part of the island. The northern part is left completely untouched to preserve the island’s flora and fauna. A hill in the middle of the island gives refuge to a variety of birds and animals, including eagles and wild goats. The surrounding coral reefs are home to mantas, dolphins, turtles and many different types of tropical fish.

Beautiful white sandy beach on Kanawa Island, Flores, Indonesia

Get In

From Denpasar, Bali, there are daily flights westward to Labuan Bajo, a tiny coastal town. At the airport, take a taxi (Rp. 50,000) or ojek / scooter taxi (Rp. 10,000) to the Kanawa office at Labuan Bajo.
The ride should just be about 5-10 minutes. There is a free boat service from Labuan Bajo to Kanawa Island at 12pm everyday, so make sure your flight arrives by 11am! The boat ride to Kanawa Island takes about 1 hour. Kanawa is just outside of the park.

Sleep

Kanawa Beach Bungalows is the only resort on the island. The resort has 18 bungalows, 9 bales and a camping area. There are 4 room options– a bungalow with private shower & toilet (about $35 / night), a bale or straw hut with shared toilet & shower (about $15 / night), a tent with shared toilet & shower (about $10 / night), and your own tent (about $7.5 / night). Rates may change depending on season and availability. Rates include a basic breakfast (2 slices of bread, an egg, a brownie, a banana, and tea and coffee) but exclude 10% tax.

Eat

The Kanawa Bungalow Resort has a Starfish Café that serves Italian, continental and Indonesian dishes. The pizza is delicious! Most dishes are below $5.

Climate

The best period to visit is from April to December as the rainy season is from January to March. The water around the island is very calm as the coral reefs protect the island from strong waves.

See / Do

WALKING – The scenery is beautiful. A walk around the island takes about 40 minutes – 1 hour. The beaches are white and water is crystal clear. There is also a hill in the middle of the island and from there you can have gorgeous views of sunrise and sunset.

Sunrise on Kanawa Island in Flores, Indonesia

SNORKELING – You can rent snorkel and fins (Rp. 40,000) from the Dive Centre and just walk 1-2 metres into the ocean. There are many types of tropical fish just a few metres from the shore.

RELAXING – There is no phone, no internet, and only limited electricity in the evening. There are also bean bags on the beach. Make sure you bring a few good books!

Other Tips

The island is cash-only so bring enough to pay for accommodation, food, and tours.
There is no shop on the island so bring enough supplies (shampoo, sunblock, insect repellent, etc.) for your stay.
There is no internet and poor cell phone service, so be prepared to be disconnected.